(L to R) Famke Janssen and Brett Gelman talk ‘Boy Kills World’.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Famke Janssen and Brett Gelman about their work on ‘Boy Kills World’, the plot, their characters, the action, their first reaction to the screenplay and working with director Moritz Mohr.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Janssen and Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, and Andrew Koji.
Michelle Dockery in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Moviefone: To begin with, Famke, can you talk about your character and why everyone fears her?
Famke Janssen: Well, I think she’s misunderstood. I think this is someone who’s being confronted with her past, and it’s been a bit dodgy and shady. So, she’s now down a very slippery slope of a mental state that’s not stable, a family history that’s probably very troubled, and a very violent, obviously present time that we’re in, in the world and in this movie. So, I would say unhinged, to put it lightly.
MF: Brett, can you talk about your character and his odd commitment to theater? Did you draw influence from any former directors that you have worked with?
Brett Gelman: It was fun. I mean, that was great to sort of be this maniacal dictator who wants to be an artist and a writer. There’s nothing more fun than playing an insane director, even if it’s just for a few moments like it is in the film. Yeah, I’m always channeling some of the stranger directors that I’ve worked with in the past who would flip out, or acting teachers.
Brett Gelman in ‘Boy Kills World’. Photo: Lionsgate.
MF: Famke, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and the ‘Boy Kills World’ universe?
FJ: It was different. To me it was all going to be about, what’s the execution going to be like? How is this going to look visually? That’s where I think I was pleasantly surprised. We had an idea about it in terms of production design, costumes, the stunt team and stunt coordinator and the visuals of all of it, and the acting. But it’s a visual feast unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s a hyper-reality.
MF: Finally, Brett, what was your experience like collaborating with director Moritz Mohr on this project?
BG: Moritz is the opposite of how Gideon behaves as a director in the movie. Moritz is like somebody who you’d always picture holding a chocolate bar and giggling. But in a wholesome way. He was a dream to work with. He’s the perfect combination of somebody who knows exactly what they want, but then is also open to collaborating with you. The best kind of directors, beyond having vision, are the directors who have vision and then also enjoy actors. Because a lot of them hate us. Some of us deserve to be hated. Moritz didn’t give us less love. Moritz gave us Moritz love, and you can quote me on that. That’s the best quote I’ve ever quoted.
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What’s the plot of ‘‘Boy Kills World’?
The new movie stars Bill Skarsgård as a young man known only as “Boy”, who vows revenge after his family is murdered by Hilda Van Der Koy (Famke Janssen), the deranged matriarch of a corrupt post-apocalyptic dynasty that left the boy orphaned, deaf and voiceless.
Driven by his inner voice, one which he co-opted from his favorite childhood video game, Boy trains with a mysterious shaman (Yayan Ruhian) to become an instrument of death and is set loose on the eve of the annual culling of dissidents. Bedlam ensues as Boy commits bloody martial arts mayhem, inciting a wrath of carnage and blood-letting.
As he tries to get his bearings in this delirious realm, Boy soon falls in with a desperate resistance group, all the while bickering with the apparent ghost of his rebellious little sister.
(L to R) Scott Adkins as “Don ‘The Reaper’ Richter,” Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” and Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
In theaters, On Digital, and On Demand on Friday, February 16th ‘Lights Out’ is the latest movie from prolific action director Christian Sesma, who has rounded up a solid cast –– some of them repeating from his previous work –– for the story of a man looking to atone for his violent past by… punching people?
Suffice to say, given that Frank Grillo is starring, there is certainly a lot of that.
Does ‘Lights Out’ strike fast?
Dermot Mulroney as “Sage Parker” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
‘Lights Out’ is a superb examination of past trauma, family issues and is loaded with memorable scenes. Unfortunately, we’d only be able to say that if we were talking about David F. Sandberg’s impressive feature directorial debut, which came out in 2016 and launched a successful career in horror and beyond for him.
Instead, this new movie from Christian Sesma has very little to recommend it.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” and Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Given how much of ‘Lights Out’ feels like it was derived from other (honestly better) movies, it’s a surprise to learn that it took two writers –– Chad Law and Garry Charles, with additional writing from Brandon Burrows –– to come up with the basic concept. Because it is indeed a very basic concept that doesn’t really develop all that much.
We’ve seen the story of a drifter who has a difficult past. We’ve seen underground fight clubs (they became something of a trope for TV series in the late 1990s and early 2000s). The story of a criminal who needs to go straight to help his family is nothing new. There are any number of movies about veterans who make tough decisions on the big screen. And don’t get us started on crooked cops.
This story doesn’t do any of them justice. It’s as if the writers compiled a pack of cliches and strung them together in place of a story.
Jaime King as “Detective Ellen Ridgeway” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
As for Sesma’s directorial style, the self-taught filmmaker does what he can with the screenplay, but there are moments that simply ring hollow. Some of the characters are completely underused (pity poor Jaime King, who barely has anything do other than scowl) and the whole thing is shot in a less-than-compelling style.
And for someone with a hefty back catalogue that frequently finds creative ways to create action with lower budgets, here the set pieces are embarrassingly amateurish, even with the likes of Frank Grillo and Scott Adkins in the cast (we really can’t blame that duo, who have appeared in the likes of Marvel and ‘John Wick’ movies for what transpires here).
Performances
(L to R) Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” and Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Frank Grillo plays Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield, whose traumatic time in the military overseas launches the film. But even he can’t overcome the less than memorable character he’s saddled with here. Grillo can certainly handle himself in the fight scenes, and knows how to handle weapons convincingly, but the drama lets him down severely, mealy-mouthed sentiments clashing with tough nut proclamations.
Mekhi Pfifer, as Max, has a little more to do, since he’s juggling his criminal ties with concerns about his sister and niece, but even on that front, it comes across as a well-trodden story with nothing new to offer –– the sister has the dodgy ex, the family is put under threat when Max tries to go straight. You’ve seen it done better many times before.
Scott Adkins as “Don ‘The Reaper’ Richter” in the action/thriller, ‘Light Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Scott Adkins, meanwhile, has an embarrassingly tiny role as an old friend of Duffy’s who is drafted in near the end to help with… Well, that would be a spoiler, but given Adkins’ action resume and martial arts experience, you can well imagine. But he’s so badly served here that you wonder why he agreed beyond a favor to Sesma.
Outside of the main pair, everyone else is mostly left floundering in underwritten roles. Dermot Mulroney probably comes off best as crooked cop Sage Parker, while Jaime King, as previously mentioned, has so little to do that she could have sent her stand-in to perform the role instead. The actors do what they can, but the film offers them little.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Mekhi Phifer as “Max Bomer” and Frank Grillo as “Michael ‘Duffy’ Duffield” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
‘Lights Out’ is not a movie we can truly recommend unless you’re a Christian Sesma completist (and this is far from his best effort), or you have a low bar to hurdle when it comes to action movies.
There are far better examples of the genre you could be using your precious time to check out. If you’re a big Frank Grillo fan, there are lots of other movies to choose from in his own considerable cinematic resume.
‘Lights Out’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.
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What is the Plot of ‘Lights Out’?
A drifting ex-soldier (Frank Grillo) turns underground fighter with the help of a just released ex-con (Mekhi Phifer), pitting them both against corrupt cops (Jamie King) and hired killers (Dermot Mulroney) gunning for them and all those they care about.
Milo Ventimiglia as Sugar in the action film, ‘Land of Bad,’ a release by The Avenue. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Milo Ventimiglia about his work on ‘Land of Bad.’ The popular actor discussed his new movie, his first reaction to the screenplay, his character, preparing for the action sequences, working with Luke and Liam Hemsworth, being disappointed that he does not have any scenes with Russell Crowe, and collaborating with director William Eubank.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Milo Ventimiglia talks ‘Land of Bad.’
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of your character that you were excited to explore on screen?
Milo Ventimiglia: Dave Frigerio and Will Eubank, they wrote a wonderful script that I think attracted the best actors. You got Luke Hemsworth, Liam Hemsworth, Russell Crowe, Ricky Whittle and me. So, you start fundamentally with that. But then beyond that, for me, I spent a lot of time in the military space. I got a lot of friends in Army Special Forces, spread out around the military, active duty, veterans, and I do a lot of work with Gold Star families, so families that lost loved ones in combat, advocating for them. So, when the opportunity came up to play someone in that world that I do work closely with, it made a whole lot of sense. It made a whole lot of sense to jump in and take some of the knowledge that I have from my friends in uniform and apply it to Hollywood, and hopefully kind of reverse engineer it back to honoring those that are in uniform, representing the group and making sure that people understand, general populations and civilians understand that we’re still very operational out in the world. I know there’s a lot going on, but there’s a lot of good work still being done out there.
MF: Have you gone through military, combat and weapons training in the past, and if so, how did that experience prepare you for this role and how did you prepare physically for this project?
MV: I mean, I’ve set charges on doors, and I’ve jumped out of airplanes with special parachute teams. I’ve done quite a bit of work in that regard, but still not enough. So aside from having friends that I could bounce ideas off that are Army Special Forces, we had a military tech, an Australian Special Forces guy who was there making sure that we were proficient with our weaponry, proficient with our movements and would drill us and drill us until we got it right. We were freeing ourselves from those little mistakes that we would make as actors that don’t have that technical specificity. So, it was great coming to the project with a bit of knowledge and then learning a lot more. Once we were on set, we had this safe space to be able to put it all together. Then on top of it, you got to be physically fit. So, there was the technical know-how, the weaponry and the movements, but beyond that, we’re moving up and down hills and mountains all day for two months with 40-50 pounds extra on us, aside from weight we put on, but also muscle we put on for the movie. So, when I wasn’t filming, I was running, I was lifting weights, and I was drilling with the guides the technical aspect of weaponry and everything and just kind of immersing myself in it.
(L to R) Milo Ventimiglia as Sugar and Liam Hemsworth as Kinney in the action film, ‘Land of Bad,’ a release by The Avenue. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
MF: Was there any sequence in particular that was especially difficult to execute?
MV: I’ll name two. There was a big gun battle toward the beginning when our position gets exposed and we’re just taking heavy fire. That was difficult because there were so many pieces and so many sides to it, but we made it through, but it took a long time. The other difficult scene was when Liam and I are breaching the compound and it’s just the two of us and we don’t have our actual weaponry. We’ve kind of have whatever AK that we picked up on the road and my tour knife. That was hard. That was that close-quarter combat. That fight scene was stressful. We had one day, I think we had seven hours to get that, because we had other things we had to film. So, I was working with our stunt team ahead of time, going through the dance of the actual battle. Liam was doing the exact same thing on the other side, and then we had no time to get it, so we just went as hard and as fast as we could. When Will’s telling me I got to flip over a table backwards and the camera’s going to follow, I say, “Okay, let me flip over the table backwards and the camera’s going to follow.” So, it was a technically difficult day that I’d earned a good meal at the end of it.
MF: In the movie, your character, Captain Sugar is the leader of an elite military team and is forced to work with a new member, Kinney played by Liam Hemsworth. How does Sugar feel about Kinney joining the team and can you talk about the trust that builds between them throughout the course of the film?
MV: I mean, this happens all the time in the military space where you must work with outside groups. Air Force must work with the Army, Army must work with the Navy. It all kind of goes hand in hand. The Marines, they always travel on Navy boats, and things like that. So, Sugar is the team leader. He’s there to keep everybody together, but he also knows that Kinney doesn’t have the proficiency that his guys do, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t look out for him. He’s got to look out for him. He must bring everybody home safe. So, I think that’s what’s nice about Sugar, he really does want success for the team. I think everybody wants success for the team, but he must take that on a little bit more in his role as the team leader. Then when things don’t go right, you got to find a way out of a bad situation. The guy that’s tasked to protect you, it doesn’t quite work out that way, but when it comes back around, you’ve got to find a way so that trust that is built. Sugar must find multiple ways to get Kinney to move forward. That’s a wonderful side of the character that I see all the time from the guys and gals that wear uniforms. They’re constantly inspiring and thinking outside themselves, but they have a mission, they have a job they must do, and they’re going to get it done. So, they’re going to say the inspirational words to move someone forward that’s really having a hard time with the given situation. It’s absolutely like coaching while you’re also on the field in the last two minutes of a big game.
(L to R) Liam Hemsworth as Kinney and Luke Hemsworth as Abel in the action film, ‘Land of Bad,’ a release by The Avenue. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
MF: You got to work with two out of three Hemsworth brothers on this movie! What was it like acting opposite Liam and Luke?
MV: Luke and Liam are wonderful. I mean, I know all the brothers and they’re just a good family. But I tell you what, Luke is crazy talented, as is Liam. They both have such a deep well of emotion as men and experienced men, on top of, they’re just good guys. You want to show up, you want to do the good work for them, you want to support them because you know that they’re there supporting you and doing the hard work. You’re not going to let each other down. I really had just a great experience, and the Hemsworths are kind of like the Australian Royal Family. So aside from being on set with these two powerhouse talent actors, we were walking around with the most beloved of the country when we were not filming. So, they’re making tables at restaurants for us that don’t exist when we walk in and serving us off-menu items because they’re the Hemsworths! Everybody loves the Hemsworths … and Russell Crowe! I mean, we didn’t get a chance to cross paths with Russell. We shot our portion in six to eight weeks ahead of time, and then Russell shot his in the two to three weeks following ours, so we never crossed paths. I’ve still never met Russell, but he did such a wonderful job in the film too. It doesn’t disappoint.
MF: Did it seem like you were making two different movies, and is it disappointing to be in a Russell Crowe film but not have any scenes with him?
MV: Very much so, two different movies. But that’s kind of what it is in real life, these guys and gals that are operating on the ground, they’ve got eyes and ears in the sky and a voice telling them to stay calm from these different places that they are communicating from, but you never meet. It’s like, “How do you in that position draw inspiration from someone that you’re just hearing a voice from?” I think Russell did a wonderful job in his character and pushing Liam and his character forward in those tough moments in those communications. So, it’s a little heartbreaking when you do a Russell Crowe film and you don’t get to work with him, but at the same time, I’m still in a Russell Crowe picture, so I’m happy about that.
(L to R) Milo Ventimiglia and Director/Co-Writer William Eubank behind the scenes of the action film, ‘Land of Bad,’ a release by The Avenue. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
MF: Finally, I really enjoyed director William Eubank’s past films, ‘Love’ and ‘The Signal.’ Had you seen his previous movies before making this film, and what was it like collaborating with him on set?
MV: Yeah, I’d seen ‘The Signal,’ and I’d seen ‘Underwater.’ I mean, he’s a visionary. He’s a great director. When I first had a meeting with him, he talked the whole time, but he talked so specifically in detail about what he wanted to accomplish with this wonderful script that I’d read, what he was looking for, and what he needed out of Sugar. He didn’t disappoint. There were a lot of hard days on set. He was under the gun with timing. We didn’t have a whole lot of days and daylight to make the movie, but we had a great experience. I think he led the group of us, and he led us well, and he made sure that the entirety of the vision came together in those tough moments. Will’s a great director and just a good dude.
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What is the Plot of ‘Land of Bad’?
Captain Eddie “Reaper” Grimm (Russell Crowe), a US Air Force drone pilot, provides air support from a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper to a US Army Delta Force team on the ground in the Philippines. After a mishap, Sergeant JJ “Playboy” Kinney (Liam Hemsworth), a young air force TACP officer attached to the drone team as its JTAC, finds himself part of an extraction team relying only on Reaper’s remote air support.
Who is in the Cast of ‘Land of Bad’?
Liam Hemsworth as Kinney
Russell Crowe as Reaper
Luke Hemsworth as Sergeant Abel
Ricky Whittle as Bishop
Milo Ventimiglia as Captain Sugar
Chika Ikogwe as Sergeant Nia Branson
Russell Crowe as Reaper in the action film, ‘Land of Bad,’ a release by The Avenue. Photo courtesy of The Avenue.
(L to R) Aaron McPherson as “Hilts,” Kelsey Grammer as “Brynner” and Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Directing his eighth (!) feature film, veteran action star Dolph Lundgren leans into his age and allows for a little vulnerability in the new thriller ‘Wanted Man.’ Make no mistake: this isn’t high art by any means, and has the sheen and feel of a low-cost direct-to-video (or direct-to-streaming) quickie, right down to the casting of one-time stars like Kelsey Grammer and Michael Paré. But Lundgren handles the action with confidence and tries to do something interesting with his character, even if the rest of the movie doesn’t quite have the same ambition.
(L to R) Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” and Aaron McPherson as “Hilts” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
‘Wanted Man’ opens with a drug deal gone wrong, in which four masked men intrude on a money-for-drugs swap and kill everyone involved, including two undercover DEA agents who seem to recognize the guys slaughtering them. Well, almost everyone is killed: two female escorts hiding in a back room escape and, it turns out, flee to Mexico.
Next we meet aging border police officer Mike Johansen (Lundgren), who probably should retire like most of his pals on the force but is now facing extreme disciplinary measures for beating the crap out of a suspect who happens to be Mexican. Johansen and his friends – which include the retired Brynner (Grammer) and the still active Tinelli (Paré) and Hilts (Aaron McPherson) – are the kind of good old boys who like to hang out in strip clubs after hours, get drunk and then drive, and push anyone with even a slightly darker skin tone than them around (as we see in one scene where Johansen demands to see an Arizona native’s green card).
When Johansen’s boss sends him on a mission to Mexico to bring back the two women who witnessed the DEA murders, it’s pretty easy to see where ‘Wanted Man’ is going. Sure enough, Johansen, the two women, and the Mexican cop accompanying them are ambushed in short order, leaving only a badly wounded Johansen and one of the women, Rosa (Christina Villa), on their own to survive and escape to the border.
(L to R) Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” and Christina Villa as “Rosa” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
‘Wanted Man’ starts out with an underlying tone of ugliness and racism that’s mainly thanks to the unrepentant nature of Johansen and his pals, particularly the nasty Brynner. But along the way, Johansen’s experiences gradually make him aware not just of his own prejudices but also the plight of immigrants desperate to make their way to a potentially better life in America. The movie – with its small cast and budget – thankfully doesn’t attempt to make any larger statements about our border issues, but it is earnest in portraying, through its protagonist’s travails, one man’s attempt to understand others.
Along the way there’s the expected action beats, narrative twists, and double-crosses, all of which you can pretty much see coming from miles away. This is pretty standard action-thriller material, but Lundgren handles it competently and even pulls off a few nice-looking shots while making use of his expansive desert locations. He’s also adept at handling the action sequences, including a tense shootout at a home in Mexico and a couple of standoffs in which he’s not afraid to show his enemies getting the upper hand on him at key moments.
At 86 minutes (including credits), ‘Wanted Man’ is the kind of compact thriller you can pass the time with relatively quickly, and even features a few interesting character relationships that elevate it slightly past the tropes it’s based upon.
The Dolph of It All
Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Perbernal.
Dolph Lundgren stars in, directs, co-produces, and has co-written ‘Wanted Man,’ making it clear that a) this is a story he feels personally attached to, and b) he wants to exercise some kind of quality control over the output of his later career. Lundgren has starred in dozens of direct-to-video action programmers that many of us have never seen, but with his profile recently raised by a supporting role in the two ‘Aquaman’ movies and a surprisingly affecting return as an older, wiser Ivan Drago in ‘Creed II,’ Lundgren seems more visible than he’s been in a long time.
He’ll never win an Oscar, but he brings a world-weariness and still-imposing physicality to the role of Johansen that makes the character believable enough, particularly as his arc bends from racism and anger to empathy and acceptance. He’s not afraid to show himself getting hurt, and to give generous screen time to his co-stars, particularly Villa, with whom he shares a decent chemistry thankfully free of any contrived sexual tension.
(L to R) Daniela Soto-Brenner as “Leticia” and Christina Villa as “Rosa” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Villa herself is not incredibly expressive but displays intelligence and fire – although conversely her portrayal of an escort is less realistic since you have to wonder how she got there in the first place. As for the rest of the cast, it’s fun to see Michael Paré (‘Streets of Fire’) pop up, but he, Grammer, and most of the other male characters are given one-dimensional treatment that pegs them right away as either good guys or villains.
In the end, though, this is really the Dolph Lundgren show, and if you’re a fan then ‘Wanted Man’ will probably work for you.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Despite a surprisingly prolific career, Dolph Lundgren was never as big a star as the likes of contemporaries Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone or even Chuck Norris. Yet there’s an intelligence at work that tries to bring something other than the standard mix of violence and chest-beating to even a small movie like ‘Wanted Man.’ While the film skimps in developing most of its other characters in a meaningful way, and gets ugly at times, Lundgren gives a believable performance, and wrings just enough tension out of the narrative as director to keep one’s attention for 80 minutes.
‘Wanted Man’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘Wanted Man’?
Travis Johansen (Lundgren) is an aging detective, whose outdated policing methods have given the department a recent public relations problem. To save his job, he is sent to Mexico to extradite a female witness (Christina Villa) to the murders of two DEA agents. Once there, he finds not only his old opinions challenged, but that bad hombres on both sides of the border are now gunning for him and his witness.
Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Perbernal.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dolph Lundgren about his work on ‘Wanted Man,’ developing the screenplay, the themes he wanted to explore, his character’s arc, working with Christina Villa, casting old friends Kelsey Grammer and Michael Paré, why he likes directing, collaborating with his crew, and how his years of experience helped him shoot the action sequences.
Lundgren also discussed the long rumored ‘Rocky’ and ‘Creed’ spinoff movie, ‘Drago,’ if it’s still in development, and why it’s important to have Sylvester Stallone involved with the project.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(L to R) Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about developing the screenplay and as a director, what were the themes that you were excited to explore with this movie?
Dolph Lundgren: I started developing the idea of this was about 15 years ago and other things came up. It was kind of loosely based on this (Clint) Eastwood movie called ‘The Gauntlet,’ where he goes and has an interstate transfer of a prisoner. I changed that to Mexico and then a couple of years back, the original writer and I started talking about making it about immigration because it’s a hot topic. Then I decided maybe I should make this character somebody who is a bit bitter and angry at the world and got something to learn. So, by ending up in Mexico, he ends up going through this physical journey and trial, but also an emotional challenge to his beliefs system. So those are the themes I wanted to touch upon.
MF: Can you talk about Travis’ personal views on society, how those ideas are challenged during the movie and how he ultimately changes as a character?
DL: At the top of the film, this guy, obviously he’s an old timer. He’s in law enforcement. He’s bitter at the world. He’s got these friends who reinforce those ideas in him. I don’t think he’s really a bad guy. He’s in a bad spot in his life, especially at the beginning of the movie, where he has a run in with an illegal alien and his policing methods aren’t the greatest. He’s a bit old-fashioned and he ends up getting in trouble with the press and with the mayor’s office, and to save his career they send him down to bring these two prisoners back and they’re really witnesses in a murder investigation of two federal agents. So, when he gets to Mexico, things are way more complicated than he thought, and nothing goes as planned. Then, by meeting various people who help him, he ends up changing his mind about a lot of things. I would say he comes back a changed man.
MF: What was it like for you as an actor to get to play an arc like that?
DL: It was interesting. When I started working on the character, he kind of reminded me of my dad. My dad was an intelligent man, but he was set in his ways, and he had a lot of anger and frustration and he never really got to turn the corner. He got a little more enlightened when he got older as people do, but not really. So, I sort of played a little bit of my dad in the beginning and I thought it was fun. It was satisfying to get to play an arc. It’s always what you look for as an actor because it gives you something to do that is a little more challenging than just playing the moment. So, I enjoyed it.
(L to R) Daniela Soto-Brenner as “Leticia” and Christina Villa as “Rosa” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
MF: Can you talk about the friendship Travis forms with Rosa and working on that relationship with Christina Villa?
DL: So, one of the witnesses is this woman named Rosa who’s a Mexican prostitute. She had to do that to survive in the states and then she’s been a witness of these murders. My character first doesn’t like her. She doesn’t like me at all. We were not the greatest of friends, but slowly we get to know each other, and it was a challenging character to find somebody to play. I wanted somebody who was Hispanic and had some experience about that and she did, and I thought she was great. I had a lot of Hispanic actors (on the set) and they were always good to ask because they would come up and say, “Well, maybe we should change this to that because this is the way we say it or this is how we feel.” I would always say, “Yeah, fine. You guys know,” and she did that. She came with some good suggestions.
MF: Can you talk about casting veteran actors Kelsey Grammer and Michael Paré?
DL: I enjoyed working with them. I know Kelsey from ‘The Expendables 3’ and then socially I’ve spent some time with him, and we always try to do something together. I thought it would be an interesting choice because he’s not what you expect. Michael Paré, I worked with him about 15 years ago, and he was always such a great guy. He’s such a good worker and stand-up guy, and I thought he’d be good. I enjoyed working with them.
Kelsey Grammer as “Brynner” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
MF: Can you talk about your approach to directing this movie, and what do you like about directing?
DL: What I do like is for these smaller movies that I feel like I have a lot of experience that I can bring to the table. Maybe more than a lot of directors that I could afford to hire. So, I feel like it’s easy to keep it all in-house. If I write, direct and even star or co-star, then I know nobody’s going to mess with the picture or do something that’s going to hurt it. I think my approach is to prepare quite well and speak to all the actors about a month ahead of time about their backstories, the characters and the relationships so that when we show up on set and I don’t have to say that much. It just comes alive in the moment. Then I try to be very quick as a director. I don’t like doing too many takes and trying to get seven different variations. If something works, in my experience, it works. Usually, you’re not going to get anything that’s more than 10% better, even if you keep shooting another twenty takes. So, I try to keep it moving forward very quickly, and I try to get the first shot off very quickly in the morning. I learned that from an old-timer, and he was funny. He would just go up to the DP and say, “Okay, you see that plane landing, shoot that.” So, everybody in the crew hears “Rolling,” like after 20 minutes. So, they’re like, “Oh, we’re working already. I don’t do that all the time, but he always said, “You got to get the first shot off within an hour, otherwise everything grinds to a halt.” So now that’s kind of my approach to it.
MF: Can you talk about working with your crew both during production and post-production?
DL: I had a problem on this picture because we had some issues in New Mexico with the crew. It was right after Covid and Netflix was in Albuquerque hiring a bunch of people, so we had difficulties putting it together. I had problems with the financing towards the end, so I didn’t have sufficient time to storyboard as much as I wanted. I did that on my last picture. Next time I’m going to storyboard. I like storyboarding a lot. I think it’s helpful and it gives you a chance to think about it visually before you’re on set and you’re going crazy because you must get the shot off and there’s a lot of other things happening. I enjoy working with the DP. I enjoy storyboarding and post-production is very important, obviously, the editing and the post-production, especially when you’re on a short schedule. So, you must cut corners when you’re shooting, and you may have to make up for it in editing or in the way you work with picture quality or sound later. So, all of those are fun. I enjoy all of it really.
(L to R) Aaron McPherson as “Hilts,” Kelsey Grammer as “Brynner” and Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
MF: Did your decades of experience making action movies come in handy when you were creating and shooting the action sequences for ’Wanted Man’?
DL: It does come in handy, and I’ve done a lot of action with various directors and different stunt coordinators. I have my way to shoot it so I can try to get as many cuts as possible in the shortest amount of time possible since when you edit, you just need more angles to build an action scene, usually you need a lot of angles. It’s a function of the number of cuts, how good it’s going to be usually. So, I think my experience comes in handy. Also speaking to the actors and talking to the stunt guys. I mean, I have a lot of respect for stunt people and always listen to them and safety is first. But I think there is a way not to waste time doing action, which I’ve been in movies where they waste a lot of time shooting stuff that I know we were not going to use.
MF: Finally, can you give an update on the long rumored ‘Drago’ movie? Is that project still happening and are you still involved in it?
DL: I was involved in it. It was in the works for a while. I think what happened was there was some corporates changes. MGM got a new president and new ownership, and things were sidelined for a while. Then ‘Creed III’ came out and did very well. So, ‘Creed IV,’ they started planning that. They’re trying to figure out where to put Drago in the franchise. Where does he fit in? Probably between ‘III’ and ‘IV.’ So, it’s still on the works. I think it would be a great project and it would be something fun to work with (Sylvester) Stallone on because he created those characters and he’s very smart about it. So hopefully it’ll get made at some point before I’m too old.
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What is the plot of ‘Wanted Man’?
Travis Johansen (Lundgren) is an aging detective, whose outdated policing methods have given the department a recent public relations problem. To save his job, he is sent to Mexico to extradite a female witness (Christina Villa) to the murders of two DEA agents. Once there, he finds not only his old opinions challenged, but that bad hombres on both sides of the border are now gunning for him and his witness.
(L to R) Dolph Lundgren as “Johansen” and Christina Villa as “Rosa” in the action thriller, ‘Wanted Man,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Ashley (Ashley Greene) and her young daughter Sarah (Thalia Campbell) must seek out Ashley’s estranged father, Matt (Nicolas Cage), for help when they wind up in the middle of a criminal enterprise that threatens their lives. Matt is living the life of a retired beach bum in the Cayman Islands when they track him down but are soon found by crime boss Donnie (Jackie Earle Haley) and his lieutenant Bobo (Ron Perlman). The more time Ashley spends with Matt, she realizes he has a secret past she knew nothing about.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with filmmaker Tim Brown about his work on ‘The Retirement Plan,’ crafting the story, shooting in the Cayman Islands, directing Nicolas Cage and his unusual acting style, his character’s parental skills, Ron Perlman’s fantastic performance, putting the cast together, and creating the action sequences.
(L to R) Director Tim Brown and Nicolas Cage on the set of ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about how this project came together and why you were excited to direct it specifically?
Tim Brown: I think I’d be excited to make any movie, frankly, but certainly this one. I think it came about almost in a bit of a different fashion. The Cayman Islands was Covid free at the time and the financier of the film was trying to find a way to bring a bunch of productions there. So I had an idea for a story and I said, “Well, what if John Wick just became a drunk on the beach for 20 years? What would he be like if it had to be pulled into action again after really not doing anything but being a drunk on the beach?” So it spawned from that idea. I thought it’d be like a Shane Black movie in a way, an action film that had a lot of comedic elements. I really like when the bad guys come into play and start talking about things that normally when you’re about to assassinate someone you wouldn’t talk about, like having a conversation about the bad service at Starbucks. Just something that takes you away from the real seriousness of the situation that you’re in to keep it light. So it really spawned from that and from having the location in the Cayman Islands and then having this sort of loose concept of a guy who has to be called back into action. And I just began writing, and as you write, that just evolved into what it became. So it was really an organic process for me.
(L to R) Nicolas Cage, director Tim Brown and Ron Perlman on the set of ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
MF: Tell us about shooting on location in the Cayman Islands during Covid, what was that experience like for you?
TB: Amazing. They brought everybody in since they were Covid free. They had a very strict policy. They were one of the only places on Earth at the time that had no Covid whatsoever. So when you got there, they decided to do a slate of movies, and I was one of four at the time. I think they ended up doing two or three more films there. So they had built up a crew and they brought in every nut, every bolt, every dolly, every camera, and every person to operate that stuff, including the cast. When you arrived, you were put into a strict 16-day quarantine in your hotel room, bracelet, phone, lockdown, and two months in jail if you broke quarantine. So it was crazy strict. But when you got out of quarantine, I didn’t put a mask on for six months, so we were going to buffets, we were hanging out, living the life that we lived prior to the whole Covid business. So on production, having that freedom, I think the cast were initially kind of shocked. I remember talking to Ernie Hudson about it, and so I’m saying, “What’s it like?” And he’s like, “I feel like I’m walking around naked without a mask on my face.” I go, “You’ll get over that in about three hours.” Sure enough, he’s hugging people, high-fiving and running around the beach. So it was an amazing experience. The weather was phenomenal, although I know it was tough. Ronnie Perlman who was there, we’d keep him in an air-conditioned car because it’s 95 degrees, the humidity is about 98%, and the moment you get outside, it’s similar to being in a steam bath. He’s got to wear sharkskin suits, so he’s really in heavy clothing and doing fight scenes and things of that nature on the sand and the beach. So when it came to that aspect of shooting in the Caymans, that was probably harder on the cast than anyone. Because if you just walk outside, you start sweating, and you obviously don’t want that too much within your character, obviously on camera. So I think I evolved Bobo’s character a little bit into commenting on how hot it was. So anytime Ron’s saying how hot it is, he’d be telling me on the side, “Oh my God, it’s so hot.” So I’d go, “Say that. Just say that because at least it lends believability to your character who’s currently about to pour with sweat in about 30 seconds if I keep the cameras rolling.” So that was a bit of a challenge. But the people of the Cayman Islands are absolutely extraordinary individuals. It’s literally one of the nicest places I’ve been on Earth because they’re just so friendly and welcoming there. There are beautiful people there across the board, and we were really super lucky to be there.
(L to R) Nicolas Cage and director Tim Brown on the set of ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
MF: Can you talk about your experience directing Nicolas Cage? What did you learn from working with him and can you talk about his approach to playing Matt?
TB: I learned a ton of stuff. When you just start to look at his resume and think about it, you kind of get overwhelmed. The majority of the process with him that’s so fantastic is the amount of work he does before you start shooting. So all of the conversations and the majority of the stuff that we talked about in prep. He’s a cinephile at the highest level. So If you want to talk film, and certainly, I don’t think I’m at his level because he’ll bring up some German existentialist film from the ’20s that I’m lost on, but he knows it cold. We would talk films a lot, referencing his character. So he likes to dive in, I believe, at least with me, into other past cinema to feed his current performance. He called me up and he said, “I want you to watch a film starring Leslie Howard called ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel.’” Not everyone’s going to know this film, but it’s an older movie set in the French Revolution when this gentleman would dress up as the Scarlet Pimpernel. At day, he’s a very flamboyant, fun-loving, easygoing, rich guy. But at night, he dresses up and he masquerades and he rescues French aristocrats from getting the guillotine. So I watched the film and as I’m watching the film, I’m like, “What the hell? How is this connected?” Then we’d talk about it and we had this expression with Matt, which was “peeling back the layers of the onion.” You realize that this Leslie Howard character in ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ is a master of disguise. So Matt is by all the things you see in front of him, he’s just like a drunk beach bum, but that’s just the facade. So Leslie Howard’s character was the same way. He had a facade, but underneath that he was an expert professional. So we would slowly pull back the layers until at the very end when he’s putting on a flak jacket, now the onion is fully exposed as this ex-agent character who’s fully back in action now. But I tried to do that slowly and with Nic and his focus on character and his engagement into the story is incredible. He’s so prepared, every day. I can’t imagine there’s a director that hasn’t worked with him that doesn’t say the same thing, that he’s just phenomenal to work with because he’s so prepared coming into it. When I first met him, we had a meeting in his hotel and the script was on the coffee table and it looked like someone carried it through Normandy at the beach raid because it was just coffee stained and it was the most worn script I’ve ever seen. So clearly, he had just read it a hundred times. He knew his lines, everyone else’s lines, but he also knew the conversations about how his character gets to where he needs to get to, that was fascinating. Then he brings what I would call, I think I referred to it as the “Nic Cage spice.” It was a secret elixir, a secret ingredient that added a flavor to whatever you were eating, to use an analogy of cooking, that was so unique. He would do it very subtly and he would improvise something very rarely. He was very adamant on script, but he would improvise a small little thing. I realized later it was a nuance to a film he had done in the past or it was a little piece of meta. If you really know Nic, you’ll see things in this movie that he does that have been taken from other films that he’s done, and I didn’t even know he was doing it. I remember he did something in one of the conversations with the little girl. He says, “Sarah, you always knocked me for a loop.” It was an improvised line because he is supposed to say, “You just asked me a million questions. What’s your question?” I said, “Cut,” and I walked over and he goes, “Oh, you didn’t like that?” I go, “No, it’s fine.” I just didn’t know why he added the, “Sarah, you always knocked me for a loop.” I think long after I’d finished the film, I was watching ‘Kick-Ass’ and when Chloë Grace Moretz says, “I want a puppy. No, I’m just kidding. I want a butterfly knife,” Nic says, “Oh, Hit-Girl, you always knock me for a loop.” I went, “He meta-ed himself in this film,” which was to me, and the fact that I discovered it and didn’t even know he did it on set, made my day. So things like that and the comedy, the subtleties, he’s a phenomenal comic actor, like crazy good. It’s just these little nuances that he puts into the character. I think he does it a fair amount with Matt, and it was a sheer joy to watch him work for sure. Again, it was tough on him too. There was a lot of fighting and action. There was never a day it wasn’t 90 degrees hot with humidity. So that was a challenge for him. But no, he was just a joy to be around for sure, and on occasion entertaining the entire crew on some days, which everyone just couldn’t have enjoyed more.
(L to R) Ashley Greene as Ashley, Thalia Campbell as Sarah, and Nicolas Cage as Matt in ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
MF: Can you talk about the family dynamic between Matt, Ashley and Sarah, and how Matt is adjusting to being a father again, and now also a grandfather?
TB: Well, one of the blessed things about that was Nic loves films that have a family theme around them. If you know anything about Kurosawa or a lot of Japanese works, he thinks Kurosawa was the king of the hill. I think a lot of Kurosawa’s and a lot of Japanese drama deals with a family dynamic. He related to that really well. And actually Ernie Hudson said the same thing. He was really drawn to the picture because of the family element to it. I just think when you add a grandchild into it, it just raises the stakes. So when I gave her the MacGuffin that everyone’s trying to get their hands on, and it was tongue-in-cheek when I called it the “hard drive” because there’s not an action picture around that someone’s not trying to get ahold of the hard drive. So I mean, that was sort of a MacGuffin almost for the sake of the comedy of it. But I think that what family does is, I think it just increases the heart part of it. You don’t want to just randomly kill people and you want to have an emotional connection. I think if you’re trying to help a granddaughter and one you’ve never known before, that might’ve helped Nic and whoever was going to play Matt at the time get into that proper state of mind where it’s just an elevated situation instead of helping a stranger if you’re trying to save your granddaughter’s life or your daughter’s life. Of course, I made them estranged at the beginning so they can have an arc to get to at the end. But I think it adds the element, and I think a lot of films where you have family involved, it makes it a little more emotional. So I think that was probably in essence, the reason for it.
(L to R) Thalia Campbell as Sarah and Ron Perlman as Bobo in ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
MF: Actor Ron Perlman really shines as Bobo. Did you write the role for him, and can you talk about his performance?
TB: Yeah, Bobo was a great joy to write. It’s funny, I don’t think I really had a person in mind when I wrote Bobo. I think if anything I head in my brain was kind of the character of Marv from ‘Sin City,’ this sort of guy who’s understated, huge and really intimidating, but an old school mob guy. I thought he’s really come down to the end of his days when he’s working for this character that Jackie Earle Haley plays, which was a guy who’s just done his time. So when we first talked about the character, I wrote a pretty detailed biography for Bobo, and I did the same thing for Nic’s character as well, four or five pages of basically where he was born and where he was raised. I wrote a lot about the guy who raised him and it was almost like Charles Dickens. I think I used a lot of that, which is why I wanted to make him smart. I thought it was totally against type, the idea that he’s talking about Shakespeare and Othello and why Iago is betraying somebody. Of course, he’s talking to this little child who’s trying to understand it while he’s kidnapped her and is about to kill her. So I thought those little nuances were kind of fun. Then when someone had suggested Ron, I mean my head exploded. I just said, “He is Bobo. It’s perfect for me.” I couldn’t have fathomed another person for Bobo. I can’t think of anyone other than Ron. When we got him, I was pretty excited. I think the only time I got more excited was when I heard Ernie Hudson was going to come to the island. So that made me really happy.
(L to R) Ernie Hudson, Nicolas Cage and Ashley Greene in ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
MF: In addition to Cage, Perlman and Hudson, the movie also includes Ashley Greene, Jackie Earle Haley, Joel David Moore, Rick Fox and Lynn Whitfield. Can you talk about putting together the cast?
TB: I think they were attracted to the script. Ashley talked about this a lot and Nic said it too, that they both thought it was really funny while they were reading it. They said that was different for them, for a lot of the projects they’ve been getting, where they get an action picture and really wanted to add comedy to it. The more I wrote, the more I found that I really wanted the tongue-in-cheek as firm as I could. I wanted to make fun of the genre of action pictures and the sort of dialogue around classic paint-by-numbers action films. So I tried to make fun of myself through the process and make fun of the genre itself. I don’t know exactly why they did it, but I do know that Nic and Ashley were very specific saying they really liked that it was so funny. So I thought that must be the main reason.
(L to R) Nicolas Cage as Matt and Jackie Earle Haley as Donnie in ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
MF: Finally, how challenging were the action sequences to shoot?
TB: Well, the whole thing with budget is time. The lower the budget, the less time. We had no rehearsal. So all the stunt sequences, those were done on the day. I mean, we really couldn’t rehearse much. Nic came on his day off to run through the hotel scene and to rehearse just to help us out because we didn’t have the luxury of two weeks of prep. I wrote some big set pieces, especially the hotel out on the balcony when they’re hanging up. So that stuff’s really challenging to do. I was very lucky to have Mark Irwin as my director of photography. His resume is crazy. He’s done a ton of comedy. Obviously the FarrellyBrothers he’s worked with a lot, and Jim Carrey and I learned a lot from him. He helped me a lot in the cheat department where I thought, “How am I supposed to show this POV?” He said, “Ah, let show you what 40 years of cinematography will get you.” He helped me out pretty quickly with that. So that was a great bonus to have that. I was surrounded by a terrific support team, but we were lucky. I had a great rigger who came literally right off of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie. He came to help with the rigging of some of that stuff. I figured if those guys can keep Tom Cruise safe, they can certainly keep our guys safe. So it was great to have that. But those sequences even on budgets that are $60 or $70 million, they’re tricky. When you’ve got less than that, to say the least, it’s really tough, but we seem to get through it okay. Thankfully, no one got hurt.
(L to R) Ashley Greene, Ron Perlman, Nicolas Cage, Ernie Hudson and Jackie Earle Haley star in ‘The Retirement Plan.’ Courtesy of The Retirement Plan.
Opening in theaters, On Demand and digital April 21st is the new action movie ‘The Best Man,’ from writer and director Shane Dax Taylor (‘Bloodworth’).
What is the plot of ‘The Best Man?’
In ‘The Best Man,’ a team of ruthless mercenaries violently seize control of a remote resort hotel looking for revenge. Former Special Ops soldiers Bradley (Brendan Fehr) and Anders (Dolph Lundgren), who are attending their best friend Cal’s (Luke Wilson) wedding to Brook (Nicky Whelan), along with the bride’s sister Hailey (Scout Taylor-Compton), must rely only on their wits and training to combat the terrorists and save the hostages held for ransom.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Brendan Fehr about his work on ‘The Best Man,’ the ‘Die Hard‘ type plot, his character, the stunts and weapons training, and working with Luke Wilson and Dolph Lundgren.
Brendan Fehr as Bradley in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Brendan Fehr about ‘The Best Man.’
Moviefone: To begin with, the movie is sort of “’Die Hard’ at a wedding.” What was your first reaction to the screenplay?
Brendan Fehr: Action movies are always fun. You never exactly know how it is going to turn out. For me, obviously it has to do with the story and ‘The Best Man,’ and I’m the Best Man. So, I was like, “Oh, that’s cool. Let’s go.” Every kid dreams of being a hero of some sort and saving the day. As an adult, I think we still have those delusions of grandeur, I suppose, of being put in that situation. Fortunately in my career, I get to sometimes, not actually do that, but play out those fantasies. So, that’s always fun. Then you’re looking at the people that are involved as well and getting to work alongside Luke, and I knew Scout from earlier. It’s always just an opportunity to do something fun and learn, and with all the ingredients put in there, see what comes out on the other side.
Luke Wilson as Cal in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
MF: What was it like working with Hollywood legends like Luke Wilson and Dolph Lundgren?
BF: I mean, they definitely have their different process. Actually, it was funny, I was thinking about this today. I don’t think I say anything to Dolph in the entire movie. I don’t think I actually talk to him. We do all hug in a group setting. I have scenes with him, but I actually don’t think I ever chat with him the entire movie, which is interesting. So, I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with either of them. It was a very quick shoot. It was kind of in and out. The movie’s a little bit of a run and gun, and so was the actual filming of it. But it’s one of those things where you realize everybody has just a different process. Having done this for 30 years, you’re always just kind of observing what’s their process. Do they like to talk a lot before the scene? Do they like to do this? Okay, that person goes off into the corner and they do this, and they got their scene. So for me, if the opportunity obviously presents itself, then you ask questions and you kind of get into it, but you don’t want to really talk about acting necessarily when you’re acting. You don’t know if that’s going to throw the other person off. So, it’s just more about observing and you kind of pick and choose what you think works for you or, “Oh, that’s interesting how they go from that to that.” Some people transform, some people want to stay in character. So, you never stop learning in this business.
Dolph Lundgren as Anders in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
MF: A lot of your scenes are with Scout Taylor-Compton, and you mentioned that you knew her previously, did that make it easier to perform the action sequences with her?
BF: Yeah. I had kind of a cameo in a movie that’s not out yet that she stars in. I actually play the father of her boyfriend or love interest, which is hilarious. Now we’re playing a couple of sorts. So, we had briefly met on that movie, and I really got along with her in the short time I was there. So, when I knew she was on this and then the role she was playing, I thought that would be a lot of fun. But with this one I saw the way she worked and she took it seriously and just very collaborative. So, ultimately we spent this entire movie together. All our days, the long days, it was a lot of me and her. She’s always looking to, how do we make this scene better? How do we elevate it? What can we do that’s fun? I’m very much the same way. When you have a partner throughout a movie that you spend a lot of time with, you hope that you do get along naturally. Sometimes you don’t, and that’s just the way it works. But this one, we were really open with each other. So, it’s that kind of creative spirit that I think I’m looking for in any project I do. We worked really well together in that respect.
Scout Taylor-Compton as Hailey in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
MF: You play a Special Ops soldier, but he’s not invincible, he gets hurt a lot in this movie and does not win every fight. Do you think that added the realism of the film?
BF: Yeah. Obviously it opens up the movie establishing that, in this case, these are men that have seen a lot and been through a lot. That can go a couple different ways. That can bond people, or it could be, even though you’re bonded, there’s trauma there but you don’t necessarily have the capacity to deal with. My character, Bradley, goes off on the ranch, kind of lives alone, doing his own thing. Dolph’s character travels the beaches all around the world, kind of living it up with what appears to be a little bit of an alcohol problem. Then Luke falls in love with the person that we rescue. So, everyone’s kind of got their different coping mechanism with it, which you hoped those establish the characters a little bit early on, giving them their own journey and then obviously being thrown back into it with the ambush at the wedding. So, yeah, it was just a great way, I thought, to, in an action way, give them their own sense of where that led them. Then they’re all thrown back together again in what’s going to happen from there.
Brendan Fehr as Bradley in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
MF: Finally, can you talk about the weapons training you had for the film, and the attention to safety on set?
BF: Safety’s always a priority. I’ve worked with a bunch of experts in guns and armor throughout my career, and I go through my own checklists. So, everyone’s extra careful. It’s not like I’m a massive gun guy, but you’re always looking to make it as realistic as possible. So, you ask the armorer and other people around who have that experience, but I’ve been doing this long enough that I kind of know most everything I do. Then as far as the fights, again, I’ve done a couple fighting movies. So, I enjoy doing those kinds of things. It’s fun and you learn it on the day. It’s a real run and gun thing, like I said. So it’s just like, “Okay, this is what we’re doing.” The fight scene in the hotel that I have, there’s a couple of pieces to it. I always say that I learn it three moves at a time. So, you practice the first three moves and you go through that. It’s like a phone number, you get that sequence down. Okay, now the next three moves are this. Okay, now you put that together. So, now you got the first six down and once you got that, you move on to the next three. That’s a really good way to quickly learn something so that everyone’s in sync, no one gets hurt, and you look like someone who knows what they’re doing.
Brendan Fehr as Bradley in the action film, ‘The Best Man,’ a Saban Films release. Photo courtesy of Saban Films.
Following the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ John Wick (Keanu Reeves) seeks to kill the leader of the High Table, and Winston Scott (Ian McShane) must face the consequences of his actions. The new leader of the High Table, Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgård), wants Wick dead and hires hundreds of assassins to kill him, including a tracker named Mr. Nobody (Shamier Anderson), and Caine (Donnie Yen), a blind assassin who is old friends with Wick.
Aided by another old friend, Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada), the manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne), Wick agrees to Winston’s dangerous plan to earn him his freedom, which involves Wick rejoining the Ruska Roma, assassinating German High Table member Killa (Scott Adkins), and challenging Marquis Vincent de Gramont to a duel to the death. But first John Wick will need to survive until sunrise if he wants a chance at getting his life back.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Initial Thoughts
With over-the-top action, more character development, and a satisfying conclusion, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is the best of the ‘John Wick’ sequels and is on par with the original film. Keanu Reeves excels in his signature role, and Donnie Yen is finally given a part in an American film worthy of his great talents.
The Story, the Action and the Direction
2014’s ‘John Wick’ was a revolutionary film for the action genre and helped to rejuvenate Keanu Reeves’ career (more on that later). What felt like a perfect stand-alone action movie was eventually transformed into a huge franchise, thanks to the success of its sequels and upcoming spinoffs. While ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ was a strong sequel that expanded the “Wick Universe,” ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,’ while a good movie in its own right, was ultimately not as satisfying a conclusion to the series as expected as it basically ended with a “To Be Continued.”
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is absolutely a satisfying ending to the title character’s story (at least for now) and one that fans of the series truly deserve. With the exception of the introduction of Halle Berry’s great character Sofia Al-Azwar in ‘Parabellum,’ who unfortunately does not appear in ‘Chapter 4,’ the third movie does not seem that relevant anymore, as most of the new film follows the same story beats: Wick and Winston atoning for their actions in ‘Chapter 2.’ While I think a trilogy would have made the series stronger in the long run, I understand the studio wanting to stretch it out given its success, and I guess ‘Parabellum’ needed to set up the upcoming spinoff ‘Ballerina.’
Director and former stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski, who upped the game for action movies with the first ‘John Wick’ ups his action game again with this film, which truly contains some amazing fight sequences. And it’s not just the scenes with what Reeves has called “Gun-Fu,” the movie also has “Car-Fun,” as well as “Sword-Fu” moments. The scenes are shot incredibly well and fluid, and allows the audience to follow the wild action without missing a beat. Particularly impressive is a massive gun and sword fight that takes place at the Osaka Continental Hotel, as well as the final set-piece, a 10-minute-plus long fight sequence that takes place on a steep set of outdoor stairs.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston, Keanu Reeves as John Wick, and director Chad Stahelski on the set of ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Keanu Reeves is one of our most beloved, and at times, underrated actors. Reeves has starred in countless modern classics like ‘Point Break,’ ‘Speed,’ and of course ‘The Matrix,’ but it seems like he didn’t finally receive the respect he deserved for his impressive career until he starred in the surprise hit ‘John Wick,’ which completely changed everything for the actor. Keanu is now a national treasure, and his dedication to the role of John Wick, as demonstrated in his training videos on YouTube, shows just how much this role has meant to him, and just how talented an actor he really is.
John Wick was never your typical action character, as his origin story began with the death of his wife (to an illness, not assassination) and his motivation was to avenge the death of the dog she gave him before she died. From inception, this gave the character more depth and made him more emotionally vulnerable than most action heroes. Reeves’ deep emotional connection as an actor is part of what makes him so good as this character and that is only elevated by the new movie. While in some ways he will always be remembered for playing Neo in ‘The Matrix’ series, it’s safe to say John Wick is now Reeves’ signature character. With ‘Chapter 4’ the actor not only brings his character to a satisfying conclusion, but also seems to be at the apex of his talents and career.
Donnie Yen as Caine in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Donnie Yen’s Caine
Best known for his work on the ‘Ip Man’ series, actor and martial artist Donnie Yen has only appeared in a few American films such as ‘Rogue One’ and ‘XXX: Return of Xander Cage,’ and he has not really been given a chance to show off his talents until now. In ‘Chapter 4,’ Donnie Yen is truly brilliant as Wick’s old friend and adversary Caine, and absolutely shines in the role. He creates a fully formed character as the blind assassin, and is completely believable in the role. His action sequences are some of the best in the film, and he brings a lot of humor to the part, and has great onscreen chemistry with Reeves. There are some hints in the movie that Caine may continue on in future installments or spinoffs, and I for one would love to see Yen return to the role.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston and Bill Skarsgård as Marquis in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The Villains
While not necessarily a villain, like Caine, Shamier Anderson’s Mr. Nobody is an adversary to Wick and one of the great new characters this film introduces. He is mysterious at first, and we’re not quite sure who’s side he is really on, which makes him more interesting to follow throughout the film. His physicality and skills are a match for Wick, but their mutual love of dogs is key to them possibly calling a truce before film’s end. I was not that familiar with Anderson’s work previous to this movie, but was impressed with his portrayal of the character and would love to see him appear in the franchise again.
Although he is really only in one sequence, action star Scott Adkins steals his scene as Killa, a physically massive German High Table member that poses a threat to Wick. The actor is heavily made-up and physically imposing, while his martial arts skills are well on display, regardless of the character’s size. Character actor Clancy Brown is always good when he appears in small but pivotal roles, and has another strong one here as the Harbinger, who works for the High Table.
But the true villain of the movie is the Marquis Vincent de Gramont, played by Bill Skarsgård. The actor does his best with the material, but like Alfie Allen’s Tarasov in the first movie, and Riccardo Scamarcio’s Santino D’Antonio in the second, the character comes off as a spoiled brat, and without the power of the High Table, one on one, is no threat for Wick, which does play out in the final scenes of the movie. He’s your standard “Bond Villain” behind the scenes pulling the strings, and I would have liked a main villain that could really be a physical threat for our hero, but perhaps that is why they cast Yen and Adkins in their roles.
Laurence Fishburne as Bowery King in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The Supporting Cast
The ‘Matrix’ reunion is cut short again as Laurence Fishburne does return as the Bowery King but has limited screen time. However, it is always nice to see Fishburne and Reeves share the frame again, and his role is pivotal to Wick’s success. Actors Hiroyuki Sanada and Rina Sawayama are great additions to the franchise as Shimazu Koji and his daughter Akira, respectively, and it was fascinating to see the Osaka version of the Continental Hotel.
Tragically, actor Lance Reddick, who has played Charon, the concierge of the Continental Hotel in New York, in all four ‘Wick’ movies died this past week, just before the film’s release. Unfortunately, the actor’s role is limited in the new movie, but his performance now has new context as it will be one of his last. Reddick’s character was a staple of the series, always having great chemistry with McShane and Reeves, particularly in ‘Parabellum,’ and the actor will definitely be missed.
But in many ways it is Ian McShane’s Winston Scott who has the biggest upgrade in ‘Chapter 4.’ The character played an important but small role in the original, and that role has grown in each new installment. Winston’s power is threatened in this film, and like a scared animal backed into a corner, we learn what happens when you cross the character. It’s his plan that could help John regain his freedom, and in turn help himself return to power, but McShane allows the character to come across in a way that you feel he is motivated by his friendship and respect for Wick as much as he is by his own self-preservation. And again, his lovely moments with Reddick as Charon will take on more resonance now that the actor is gone.
(L to R) Lance Reddick as Charon and Ian McShane as Winston Scott in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
Is ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ the last one, or will there be a ‘John Wick 5?’
Without giving anything away, there definitely is a finality to ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ or at least a satisfying conclusion to the main character’s story arc. Regardless of the movie’s outcome, rest assured that the franchise will not end here. While there are plans for a ‘John Wick: Chapter 5,’ director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves have both said recently that they plan to take a break from the character and the franchise for a while.
But no matter what happens with the flagship ‘Wick’ series, the franchise and especially ‘Chapter 4’ have created such a big world with so many interesting characters that it will go on for the foreseeable future. Already in production is ‘Ballerina,’ based on characters introduced in ‘Parabellum,’ including Unity Phelan’s Rooney (now played by Oscar nominee Ana de Armas) and Anjelica Huston’s “The Director.” The movie is helmed by ‘Underworld’s Len Wiseman and will also feature Reeves, McShane and Reddick, reprising their roles, and it is said to be set between ‘Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4.’
There has also been talk of a spinoff featuring Halle Berry’s ‘Parabellum’ character, and a possible crossover with Bob Odenkirk’s ‘Nobody’ series. Not to mention the upcoming series adaption called ‘The Continental,’ which is an origin story for the Winston Scott character, featuring Colin Woodell playing a young Winston, as well as Oscar winner Mel Gibson.
Final Thoughts
In the end, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is an action-packed and emotional rollercoaster with fantastic new characters and a satisfying conclusion to the title character’s arc. Keanu Reeves reminds us why we love him playing his beloved signature character, and Donnie Yen dazzles creating a new character you’ll want to see again, while director Chad Stahelski delivers the best sequel in the series.
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ receives 9.5 out of 10 stars.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
But even more recently, there has been Allison Janney, who kicked ass as a former CIA operative-turned-recluse in ‘Lou’.
And further proof that we’re in for a shift is word that Emma Thompson entering the fray.
Variety reports that Dame Emma is now aboard to star in a new action thriller called ‘The Fisherwoman’. She’ll play a widowed fisherwoman who, while trapped in a Minnesotan blizzard, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenager and soon finds she is the young victim’s only hope.
Brian Kirk is directing this one. A veteran of both TV and movies, he helped launch Idris Elba drama ‘Luther’ and has directed episodes of ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Penny Dreadful’. On the movie side, he’s been behind the likes of ‘Middletown’ and Chadwick Boseman cop thriller ’21 Bridges’.
The script comes from writers Nicholas Jacobson-Larson and Dalton Leeb, who recently landed a deal to come up with a ‘Hot Wheels’ movie for J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot company and Warner Bros. They’re also working on alien invasion movie ‘The Fall’.
“Dame Emma Thompson is a phenomenally talented artist and the perfect incarnation of our film’s titular character,” says Jon Berg, president of production at Stampede Ventures, which is one of the companies backing the movie. “We couldn’t be more honored and excited to see her embody a character that shares her unique strength, grit and intelligence.”
Thompson is also an executive producer on the movie, the rights to which will be offered up to buyers at the European Film Market, which happens later this month.
It’s not exactly the sort of film that we expected Thompson to pick, though the multi-talented, award winning actor, writer and producer can do anything she likes. Just this year alone, she was seen in ‘Good Luck, Leo Grande’ and the ‘Matilda’ musical movie as the villainous Miss Trunchbull.
And who hasn’t watched ‘Love Actually’ and imagined Thompson’s character wiping away her tears upon confirming her husband’s (played by Alan Rickman) infidelity and thrown him from a building as with Rickman’s ‘Die Hard’ villain?
The new movie stars Jennifer Lopez (‘Hustlers’) and Josh Duhamel (‘Bandit’) as Darcy and Tom, respectively, who decide to have a destination wedding on a small island. As their family and friends arrive, including Darcy’s Ex-boyfriend Sean (Lenny Kravitz), the couple get cold feet and begin to argue. But they soon must come together to save the wedding guest’s when they are all taken hostage by Pirates.
The result is an entertaining and funny romantic action comedy, which features strong performances from the cast but is also very predictable.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
I’m a sucker for any movie with a ‘Die Hard’ theme. It doesn’t matter if it is ‘Die Hard’ on a plane (‘Passenger 57’) or ‘Die Hard’ in the White House (‘Olympus Has Fallen’), I’ll watch it! Which is probably why I enjoyed ‘Shotgun Wedding’ because it’s basically just ‘Die Hard’ at a wedding. With all the ‘Die Hard’ clones that have been made over the years, I was surprised to realize that no one had thought of setting it at a wedding until now.
Originally conceived as a vehicle for Ryan Reynolds, who still serves as executive producer, the film was clearly retooled for Jennifer Lopez’s strengths once she came on board the project. And Lopez is uniquely qualified to star in this particular film as she is both believable in romantic comedies like ‘The Wedding Planner’ and ‘Maid in Manhattan,’ as well as action movies like ‘Out of Sight’ and ‘Parker.’ Lopez is in complete command in the romantic scenes with Duhamel, but she can also hold her own in the comedic scenes with Jennifer Coolidge, and looks completely believable firing a giant gun at the bad guys.
In some ways, this is really the complete Jennifer Lopez performance as you get a little bit of everything she’s good at, including singing, as there is one musical number at the end of the movie.
Veteran actor Josh Duhamel is probably best known from his appearances in the ‘Transformers’ movies, but has never really been given the opportunity to shine until now. Not unlike Lopez, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ gives Duhamel an opportunity to combine his comedic skills with his ability to be believable in an action role. The actor has some very funny moments in the movie, as well as sweet romantic scenes with Lopez, but also excels as an action-hero, along with J. Lo.
Jennifer Coolidge as Carol Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
Jennifer Coolidge, finally a household name for her work on ‘The White Lotus’ and her award season acceptance speeches, plays Tom’s overprotective mother and is hilarious as always in the part. She essentially plays the same basic character she always plays, but it works perfectly for this project. She has great chemistry with Lopez, and even gets to shoot a gun herself in one scene.
Cheech Marin and Sonia Braga were also nice to see playing Darcy’s estranged parents, and Marin has some fun scenes with D’Arcy Carden, who plays his new girlfriend. Marin also has a funny storyline with Lenny Kravitz’s Sean, Darcy’s ex-boyfriend who her father is still in touch with and invites to the wedding. Kravitz probably gives the weakest performance in the movie, and is basically just playing a version of himself. The character might have worked better if he actually played himself, and if Darcy’s ex was the real Lenny Kravitz! Unfortunately, as it is in the movie, the thrill of seeing Kravitz on screen wears off quick and you are left with a lackluster performance.
(L to R) Cheech Marin as Robert Rivera and Lenny Kravitz as Sean Hawkins in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
In fact, the biggest problem with the film is its predictability. Obviously, we know that Tom and Darcy will survive, they will save the guests, and get married by the end of the movie, but we get there without any real surprises, which makes the movie drag at times. Even the reveal of the “true villain” in the third act was no real surprise, and could have been more of a mystery.
While the romantic comedy elements are baked into the premise of the film, it’s the action sequences directed by Jason Moore that really make the film work. There is a thrilling zipline scene with Duhamel, and Lopez has some great moments with a hand grenade. But one of the best action scenes in the movie involves a helicopter/boat chase at the end of the film.
At the end of the day, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ is a satisfying and entertaining romantic action comedy because of the strong performances from Lopez and Duhamel, who excel in this specific genre. It works as a cute rom-com, but also as a big budget action movie, and the supporting cast, especially Coolidge help fill out the film, even if it is predictable at times.
(L to R) Jennifer Lopez as Darcy Rivera and Josh Duhamel as Tom Fowler in ‘Shotgun Wedding.’ Photo Credit: Ana Carballosa.
